Thomas Safelight

[CMoore]

I bought some darkroom stuff, which included a Duplex Safelight.
I just did a search and some reading...to be honest, I am more confused now than when I started.
Are there "better" lights to get these days.?
My darkroom is about 12'x13'. The ceiling is 8' high.
The ceiling is straight white, the walls are a medium green.
Thank You

 

[gone]

This is an area that can be over thought very easily. I simply bought one of those red bulbs from Freestyle when I made my paper order, so since I didn't have to pay shipping specifically for it the cost was just $5. Tried it out last night and it's all I will need. Works perfectly. I haven't made a safelight test yet, but don't think there will be any problems. I also have an inexpensive bike red LED taillight standing by if I need additional light, but I'm used to working w/ minimal light in the darkroom. Make sure that the paper you have is rated for the colour of your safelight. Most times a red one is fine for B&W, but some papers need a different filter.

The safelight is only on when I'm loading the paper onto the easel for prints or test strips, making my exposure, and w/ the paper in the development bath for a few minutes. How much light does anyone need for that? I have to cut my papers down a little to fit my trays, but that one bulb looks like it will give adequate light even for that. After 10 minutes you can see well w/ very little light.

Room colour will have no effect on anything. Just make sure you don't have shiny objects that can reflect light onto the paper (like in bathrooms), and ck for enlarger light leaks, although those are more of a distraction than a problem, as they seldom shine onto the paper.

 

[EdSawyer]

The Thomas Safelight is easily the best safelight I have ever used or seen. It's a great choice.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I think the Thomas Safelight is a good unit I have 5 of them.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I think the Thomas Safelight is a good unit I have 5 of them.

one or two dim (15W)red safelight not shining directly onto the paper but reflecting off a white wall or ceiling is all one needs;verified by a safelight test of course.

 

[CMoore]

Let me ask this.....I Have the Thomas, any reason to not use it, and go with something else.?
Thanks

 

[MattKing]

Let me ask this.....I Have the Thomas, any reason to not use it, and go with something else.?
Thanks

If the filters are still okay, and the bulb is still okay, and you know how to set the vanes, and you have sufficient ceiling height they are wonderful!

There are some exotic papers that require special filtration in order to use a Thomas, but you aren't likely to encounter those.

You need to do a proper safelight test though - with any safelight. One that involves testing on pre-flashed and post-flashed paper.

Here is the highly recommended, comprehensive Kodak test: http://wwwca.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/k4/k4TestSafelite.shtml

 

[CMoore]

OK...Great.
Thank You for that.
Actually, one side is missing a filter, the one with the yellow tape. I get the feeling it might be worth 50 bux to buy a Different/Smaller safe-light, with a less expensive lamp.

 

[CMoore]

I just had this light on for about 30 minutes.
The Red Filters, when the light is off, are Very Red. With the light on, they look very light yellow in Day/Room Light. Is that normal.?

 

[EdSawyer]

The color temp/brightness of the Thomas changes a bit as it warms up. Great safelight. I think there are filters that allow use with RA4 paper even, though I haven't tried it (I just do RA4 in complete darkness, it's no problem). Once you get used to a Thomas, nothing else will be satisfactory, I think, for B&W. Even with the vanes fully closed it's so much better/brighter/more even/etc. than any other safelight.

 

[mshchem]

Greatest safelight ever made. I have 3, I use for color and black and white. I've never had trouble with color (the FCD filters need to be fully closed and in good shape ) after your eyes adjust and the safelight warms up. I think I could read a head line of a newspaper.
For Black and white it's amazing, I leave the color filters installed with the standard filters in the body. I don't open the vanes more than a quarter open never fogged any paper yet. The things are so bright that it can be difficult to see to focus enlarger.
Sodium vapor bulb.
Best Mike

 

[BobMarvin11225]

"The things are so bright that it can be difficult to see to focus enlarger'

That's what I dislike about these safelights, since they can't be shut off for focusing and composing. However, I've only worked with thm twicw and have conventional safelights in my own darkroom. I imagine I could get used to the Thomas.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

"The things are so bright that it can be difficult to see to focus enlarger'

That's what I dislike about these safelights, since they can't be shut off for focusing and composing. However, I've only worked with thm twicw and have conventional safelights in my own darkroom. I imagine I could get used to the Thomas.

I, like a few others, use a piece of mat board in the outer vane. This way the light can be shut off with the vanes closed. It helps if the chain operating the vanes is easy to reach..

 

[Rolfe Tessem]

There is only one problem with the Thomas, and that is that it isn't instant strike. So, if you're enlarger setup is such that it turns off the safelight while the enlarger bulb is on and then back on again, the Thomas won't work well as it takes a bit of time to come up to speed. If you leave it on all the time, then no problem.

I found I couldn't use it with my RH Designs Analyzer because leaving it on would interfere with the exposure reading by the sampling sensor.

Rolfe

 

[kreeger]

My darkroom is the same size as yours within a foot or so, with white cieling, I have a new Thomas safelight. I have done my tests and with the new bulb and filters, I keep the vanes completely closed.
The b&w darkrooms I have worked in through the years always had them. It would be hard for me to go back to a bunch of bullet safe lights or light bulbs.